Book holder



E. RACZ BOOK HOLDER Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed July 22, 1929 I 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Ernes? Rczcz BY Jaw? ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1932. E. RAcZ BOOK HOLDER Filed July 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR P 4 mes? Hacz ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1932.

E. RACZ 1,341,153

- BOOK HOLDER Filed July 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ErnesT Rama ATToNEYs Jan. 12, 1932.

E RACZ 1,841,153

BOOK HOLDER Filed July 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Ernes? Baez Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE ERNEST M02, or DETROIT, MICH GAN, ASSIGNOR To BURROUGHSADDING MAc 'IINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOOK HOLDER Application filed July 22,

Thisinvention relates to a book holder for holding a book in open condition so that it may be easily read and so that the leaves of the bookmay be easily turned and held in position after they are turned. It relates particularly to a holder of the type mentioned that will hold a book SOthEl-t a stenographer or clerk may manipulate the bookwith one hand and readily and rapidly copy from its 0 contents. In order that the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood one of its uses will be described. Business concerns such as public utilit companies often use rather heavy, loose-leaf -books that are carried by the men who read meters. A separate. sheet is used for each customer and therecord of his consumption of gas, electricity, etc. is on this sheet. After the meter reader has covered his route his book is turned into the billing department in order that bills may be prepared for sending to the customers based upon the contentsQof the book. These bills are made out on billing machines that require the use of both of the operators hands. The books have to be rather heavy'in order to withstand the wear of constant handling by the meter readers and they generally open on their ends. They do not remain open very-well and the operator cannot conveniently hold them open with one hand while operating the machine with the other. vItis. a slow process to use weights for holding the booksopen because every time a leaf is turned one of the weights has to be lifted andthe leaf adjusted under it. Furthermore, it is difiicult to read these books when they'are laid fiat on a deskbecause there are often entries on both sides of the sheet and the book doesnot assume an abso- 49 lutely flat position. The difiiculty of rapidly copying the entries out of such a book and entering them on a machine will be readily apparent. I .t

The present invention comprehends a book holder which will hold books of this kind in a convenient position to be read and which will enable the leaves of the book to be turned easily with one hand and automatically held in the position to whichv they areturned with-i V out the manipulation of any special devices.

1929. Serial No. 380,154.

In other words, all the operator has to do is to put the book on the book holder and turn the leaves with one hand as he or she desires to go from page to page.-

Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide an improved book holder.

A more particular object is to provide a book holder that will hold a book in open position and in a convenient position to be read, the holder being provided with devices for automatically retaining the leaves of the book in open position, as each leaf is turned by the reader.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this kind that will permit the book to be readily placed on and taken 01f of the book holder. a

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification and drawings.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective-of the book holder with a book thereon in open position;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the automatic spring fingers that hold the leaves of the book Fig. 3 is a horizontal section showing particularly the retaining devices for holding the book on the book holder; I

Fig. 4,is a partial elevation of the main support showing the provisions for adjustment to accommodate books of different sizes;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of book holder particularly adapted for books that openv horizontally;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the spring fingers used with the book holder shown in Fig. 7 is a partial perspective of another modified form of the book holder, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the holder shown in Fig. 7.

A book of the character adapted to be used with the support is illustrated in Fig. 1. It isa loose-leaf book having a relatively heavy lower cover 1, a similar upper cover 2, and a plurality of leaves 3, the cover and leaves being bound together at the end edge 4.

' 1n inclined pOSltlOIlfiS shown in Flg, 1 and 1t to the connection of the link with the right- A book of this nature is usually rather heavy, stiff and difficult to maintain in open condition.

The holder includes a support comprising a base to which is detachably secured a and the back 12 are alike except for the holes that are punched and cut inthem. This likeness of parts reduces manufacturing'costs and the disconnectible feature makes it possible to ship the book holder in knocked-down condition in'a very small package. 1 v

The back plate 12 ispreferably supported has a rectangular opening 15 near its upper end for receiving the bound edge of a book as illustrated. The provision ofthis opening enables the back covers of a book to lie fiat against the plate 12. The base 10 is provided with a stud v16 at its forward end for the purpose of holding the lower cover of the book against slipping off the base.

In order to hold he covers of a book on the support, the back plate 12 is provided Wi h two sets of spring retaining devices, one above and'one below the opening 15, the one below being to hold the lower book cover and the one above to hold the upper book cover. These two sets of spring retaining devices are exactly alike so thatonly one will be described in detail. 7

Referring to Fig. 3, the back plate/12 has two supports 20 fastened to its rear side and held in position by screws 21. Pivoted at 22 on these brackets are spring fingers 23 which project through openings 24: in the back plate. The portions of these spring fingers that project through the openings .24

tothe other side of the back plate have inclined edges 25 which incline toward the center and face of the b'ackplate and they also have shoulders 26 adapted to project over the -;covers of a bookto hold the book in place- The two fingers 23- are connectedat the rear of the back plate 12 by a link 27 and a spring 28 .is connected at one endto a lug on this link and at its other end to one of the'brackets 20, this spring tending to hold the two fingers in the positionillustrated Fig. 3. It will be observedthat the connection of the-link 27 to the left-hand finger 23 is on the opposite sideflof the pivot of the finger hand finger The purpose'of having these fingersthus connected together is to simplify the construction, reduce the number of parts,

L andto enable the two fingers to'be operated together in opposite directions, particularly when they are released.

I By referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that a number of openings 24 are provided in the back plate 12 and corresponding openings are provided for the screws 21 which hold the brackets 20 in place, this series of openings being provided in order that fingers may be spaced differently to accommodate books of different widths. The link 27 also has a series of holes 29 in it in order that it may accommodate difierent locations of the fingers 23. j

A book may be readily placed on the holder in open position without the manipulation of any special parts. The lower cover 1 is set behind the stud 16 whereupon the'rear or bound edge 4 automatically fits into the opening 15. As the book is pushed into position the spring fingers 23 of the lower set of fingers are automatically cammed outward by the edges of the cover after which they snap back into the position illustrated in Fig. 1 under the influence of spring 28 to hold the lower cover in position on the back plate. a

The upper cover can then be swung upwardly and it will automatically move the spring fingers 23 of the upper set outwardly after which these fingers will snap into position to hold the upper cover in place. The book iii need not necessarily beplaced on the holder by the operations above described as it is entirely possible to first open the book and then push it against the back plate 12 while in open condition thereby snapping both sets of fingers 23 over the two covers at the same time.

When a book is placed in position as above described the leaves 3 hang downward as shown for the lower set of leaves in Fig. 1. 3

This permits the operator to readily read the entries on the first page which is held in a substantially vertical position, owing to the fact that the back plate 12 is inclined and that the leaves do not turn downwardly immediately but project outward and then bend over into a substantially vertical position. After the operator has read the entries on the first page he desires to turn this leaf upward to either read the entries on the reverse side'ofthat pageor toread the entries on the next page. This can'be done with one hand but, unless means were provided to prevent it, the leaf would fall down as soon as the operator 'released'it.

In order to prevent the leaves from'falling to their lower positions, two spring fingers 30 are provided which are pivoted on substantially vertical pivots 31 on standards 32 that are detachably connected to the back plate 12of the support by screws 33 extending through slots 34 (Fig. 4). As illustrated in Fig. 4, these standards 32 maybe adjusted in'and out to vary the position of the fingers and this adjustment can not only be made relative to the particularv slots 34 in the back plate in which the standards are fastened, but the standards may also be held in different slots 34 in the back. plate to varythe spacing of the fingers, this construction being providedin order to accommodate different widths of books. The inner ends of the spring.

fingers are urged outwardly by springs each spring being connected at one end to the tail of its finger and at the other end to a stud on its respective standard 32, the movement of the fingers under the influence of the springs being limited by contact of the fingers withtheends of the standards 32. The spring.

- soon as a leaf has passed the spring fingers they-snap out again under the influence of their springs 35 to the .full line position of Fig. 2 where they are in a position to arrest theleaves when they start moving down after being released bythe operator. The leaves will drop'back slightly to the position illustrated in Fig. :1, but the fingers are positioned so that even though the leaves'bulge out they are 'heldagainst falling back to theirlower positions and they are held in such .a position that entries on their rear side may be read easily.

In turning the leaves of the book the operator need not manipulate any levers or devices.

All he or she has to do is to turn the leaf upward past the spring fingers 30nand. release it whereupon it will be automatically held against return and in a osition where the entries on the reverse si e of the turned leaf and on the face of the next leaf can be read.

When the operator is through with the book all he needs to do to release it is to push one finger 23 of each of the sets of fingers outwardly. I/Vhen oneof these fingers is moved the other. finger of its set moves out with it and the cover of the book is released. In fact, these two sets of spring fingers are generally relatively close together so thata skilled operator can press one finger of 'each set simultaneously so that the both covers of the book are released at the same time after which the book can either be raised'up or allowed to pass down and be removed from the book holder. It would, of course, be possible to press in the spring fingers, 30 and allow the upper leaves of the book andthe upper cover to swing down before removing the'book, but

it is just'as easy to not bother with the spring fingers 30 andto release the covers of the'book and then tomove the book either up or down so as to avoid the fingers 30.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified construction for use with a book that opens in a horizontal direction.' In this form the standards 42 which support the pivoted spring fingers 40 carry studs 43 which act like the stud 16 of F i 1 to hold the book against sliding out of position. These studs 43 also hold the covers 1 and 2 open which makes it unnec-v essary to have spring fingers for this purpose. The book is placed on. the holder by first opening it and then placing it in position with the covers 1 and 2 behind the studs 43 and with the bound edge extending through the opening 15. A shelf-like support 44 is struck out of the metal of the back plate 12 to assist in bearing the weight of the book.

In this modification it is not necessary to have spring fingers on each side of the leaves in order to hold them in position. Spring fingerson the lower side serve the purpose. These spring fingers are of difierent shape than those heretofore described, they are mounted slightly different and they are not operated by the leaves of the book. Instead they are placed in positions such that the thumb of the operator will automatically move them as he grasps the leaves tomove the'latter from one position to the other.

The fingers 40 in this construction are pivoted on substantially horizontal pivots 41 on blocks 46 carried by the standards 42. The fingers are urged to swing inward by springs 45, the movement of the fingers being limited by shoulders 47 on the standards 42.

Inplacing a book on this form of holder, it may be placed with the leaves on the right or on the left side depending upon which way it is desired to turn the leaves- Assuming that the leaves are on the right side and they are to be turned to the left, the operator grasps the top leaf which may be moved lengthwise to the. left to move it out from under the right hand finger 40. Vhile such lengthwise movement is, possible the preferred operation is for the operator to move the finger 40 clockwise with his or her thumb as he or she grasps the top leaf. This'moves the finger out of the way and permits the i sheet to be raised. By a little practice an opcrator becomes so proficient at doing this that it can be done without thought and very rapidly. As the leaf is moved to the left the thumbof the operator strikes the left hand finger 40 and moves it out of the way to permit the leaf to move to place. The operators thumb passes over the finger as the sheet is moved to position and the finger snaps back to a position to hold the leaf against returning. IVhen the leaves are turned fremleft to right the action is the same except that the fingers 40 are moved reversely, that is, the left hand finger is pushed'out of place to permit a leaf to be raised and the. right hand fingeris pushed aside to allow the leaf to move to its turned position;

' It will be observed that a book holder has on the holder and held inopen position after 7 which the leaves maybe turned as desired andthey will be automatically held in place to permit the, entries to be readily read. When the operator is through with the book he can quickly releasev it and place another in position. v v

Another modification is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, this construction being particularly adapted for handling books having very thin sheets. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the sheets of an ordinary book bulge out and strike the spring fingers 30 which prevent them from returning. This takes care of the vast majority of books but another improvement has been added to take care of books having very thin tissue-like sheets which do not have enough body to bulge out to strike the fingers 30.

brackets 52 fixed to the back plate 12. This bailengages the top cover of the book and,

under the influence of the springs 85, urges the cover and the turned sheets in a direction to cause the sheets to engage the ends of the fingers 80 as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. WVhen a sheet is turnedto its upper position the top book cover may be pushed back, the

- springs yielding under pressure, but as claims.

soon as the operatorireleases the sheets and the pressure on the upper portion ofthe book, the springs move the cover and the turned sheets to. the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and'8. The book illustrated withthis modification has a stiff bottom cover and a flexible top cover, but other types of covers can also be used including the stiff covers illustrated 1. A book holder comprising a'support adapted to support a ,bookin open position, fingers mounted on said support to normally project into the path of movement of the leaves of a book on said support, said fingers being yieldable in a direction to allow each i and all of the leaves to freely pass the fingers and moveto open position by a normal leaf opening movement, and means limiting the movement of thefingers'in the direction of closing movement of'the leaves whereby said fingers hold the opening leaves against return from open to closed position.

2. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, fingers pivoted in said support in position to project into the path of movement of leaves of a book on said support, said fingers having inclined portions positioned to be engaged by the leaves of a book as said leaves are moved to open positionwhereby saidfingers are L automaticallymoved to allow each and'all of said leaves to freely pass to open position by a normal leaf opening movement, means acting to return said. fingers .into the path of said leaves after each has passed to open position, and means limiting the return.

movement of said fingers whereby said fingers hold the opened leaves against return to closed position.

A book .holder comprising a support having portions for supporting the two sides of an open book in substantially the same plane, fingers pivotally mounted'adj ac ent the portion of said support supporting the opened leaves, said fingers being normally in the path of movement of the leaves but being movable by the leaves. in their movement to open position to allow each and all the leaves to freely pass to open position by a normal leaf opening movement, and means limiting the movement of the fingers in the opposite direction, said fingers and the portion of the support ad acent them being positioned so as to hold the opened leaves in position to enable the backs of the openedleaves to be easily read.

4. A- book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position with the book opening upwardly and the two open portions of the book in substantially the 3 samev plane, standards. projecting outwardly from the upper portion of said support, and spring fingers pivotally mounted on the ends of saidfstandards, said fingers having portions inclined toward the center of said support and positioned-to be engaged by the leaves of 'a book as said leaves are moved to open position by a normal leaf opening movement, said fingers being yieldable in a direction to permit each'and all of the book leaves to freely pass to open position and means limiting the movement of said fingersin the opposite directionwhereby the opened leaves are held against return to closed position.

5. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, means for holding the leaves of the book on said support in open position after they are turned to said position, said means being normally in the path of said leaves but yielding automatically to permit them to pass as they are moved to open position, and yielding means urging the opened leaves into engagement with said holding means.

6. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, yielding fingers normally positioned in the path of the leaves of a book on said support as said leaves are moved to open position, said fingers yielding automatically to permit said leaves to move freely to open position and means associated therewith to restrain said leaves against return to closed position, and yielding means urging the opened leaves into engagement with said fingers.

7. A book holder comprising a supportadapted to support a book in open position, fingers pivotally mounted on said support, said fingers being spring urged to inclined positions such that, as the leaves of a book are moved to open position, said leaves strike the inclined portions of said fingers causing the fingers to yield automatically to allow the leaves to pass after which the fingers move back with their ends in position to restrain the opened leaves against return to closed position, and a spring urged bail acting to hold the opened leaves against said fingers. y,

8. A book holder comprising a support adapted to sup-port a book in open position, means on said support urging toward closed position one side of a book positioned in said support in open position, and means for restraining said urged book side, said urging means being movable away from said restraining means as the leaves of the book are moved to open position and said restraining means being yieldable in a leaf opening direction so that, as the leaves of said book are turned to open position, they may automatically pass said yielding means and subsequently be held against the restraining means by the urging means. I

9. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, a movable bail urged in a direction tending to move toward closed position one side of a book positioned on said support in open position, and fingers acting to restrain the side of said book being acted on by said bail, said fingers being .yieldable automatically in a direction to allow the leaves of said book to pass them in being moved to open position whereby the leaves of said'book may be freely moved to open position and thereafter Ee llield against the restraining fingers by the 10. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position,

a bail pivotally mounted on said support, said bail being spring urged in a direction tending to move toward closed position one side of a book positioned on said support in open position, and fingers pivotally mounted on said support at the sides of said book side that is urged toward closed position, said fingers being spring urged to project over and to incline toward the center of said urged book side with the ends of said fingers restraining said book side, the inclined portions of said fingers being positioned to be engaged by leaves of said book as said leaves are moved to open position whereby the fingers yield automatically to allow the leaves to pass, the bail also yielding to allow the leaves to move to open position and subsequently actmg to move the opened leaves into engagement with the fingers.

11. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, means mounted on said support to normally project into the path of movement of the leaves of the book on said support, said means being yieldable in a direction to allow each.

and all of the leaves to freely pass the means and to move to open position by a normal leaf-turning movement, and means limiting the movement of the first named means in the direction of the closing movement of the leaves whereby said first named means hold the opened leaves against return from open to closed position.

12. A book holder comprising a support adapted to support a book in open position, means mounted on said support to normally project into the path of movement of the leaves of the book on said support, said means being yieldable in a direction to allow each and all of the leaves to freely pass the means and to move to open position by a normal leaf-turning movement, and means limiting the movement of the first named means in the direction of the closing movement of the leaves whereby said first named means hold the opened leaves against return from open to closed position, said first named means and said support being shaped and positioned to support the opened leaves in position to enable the backs of said opened leaves to be easily read.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ERNEST RACZ. 

